Filling of code slots or notches in embossed printing plates or stencils



Aug. 17, 1948. vANG 2,447,293

FILLING OF CODE SLOTS OR NOTCHES IN EMBOSSED PRINTING PLATES OR STENCILS Filed Nov. 9, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALFRED VANG.

BY I 1 24. [#m;

A TTORNEK Aug. 17, 1948. v A. YANG 2,447,293

. FILLING OF CODE SLOTS 0R NOTCHES IN EMBOSSED PRINTING PLATES QR STENCILS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1944 INVENTOR. FRED VAA/G.

Aug. 17, 1948. A. VANG 2,447,293

FILLING 0F CODE SLOTS 0R NOTCHES IN EMBOSSED PRINTING PLATES 0R STENCILS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 9, 1944 INVENTOR. ALFKED Vl /VG. fifirfi km ,4 TTOK/VEX Patented Aug. 17, 1948 STATES PATENT OFFICE- FILLING OF CODE SLOTS OR NOTGHES,

IN EMBOSSED PRINTING PLATES ORv 'STENCILS' Alfred .Vang, New York, N. Y-

Application November 9, 1944, Serial No. 562,694

7Claims. 1"

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the filling of code slots'or notches inembossed printing plates or stencils.

In the mailing of large numbers of magazines to subscribers, it is customary to address each item: of mailby automatic printing machines, which are operated so that" asuccession of address prlntingplatesis fed into the machine and the name and address, as well as other symbols designating certain information in regard to a subscriber are automatically printed from a plate. Such plates frequently are notched in accordance with the expiry date of the addressees subscription, sov that when the wrapper for, the expiring issue is addressed, sensers or feelers cooperate with the code notches tocause a withdrawal of the plate from the active lots, or to otherwise signal that the subscription of the addressee is expiring.

Heretofore it. has been customary to discard the out-of-date plate and provide a completely new plate when the subscription is renewed. Such procedure necessitates thestriking of a new plate whichentails the copying of the name and address and other informative symbols, etc.

Errors of copying frequently occur due to difficulty in reading. the plate, and other sources of human error. In one instance where the number of active subscribers is-over 5,000,000, the cost of each error is estimated at over one dollar.

Myinventionhas for its object the filling of the code notches, so that the plate may be retained in use by the cutting of appropriate new notches, and. thus avoid the waste of strategic metal and avoid errorsin printing. The; filling of the" notches must be. carried out with" great accuracy. If the filling is incomplete the senser or feeler may cause the plate to be rejected prematurely. On the other hand, burrs may cause jamming of the automatic printer and other handling mechanism;

Another object is toprovide a device for automatic application of alloy material'to enable the filling of the code notch. by soldering or eutectic welding.

Still another object is to provide a device which may be operatediin conjunction with. known automatic printing means hitherto in use.

The invention comprises means for holding the address plates and means for applying the alloy to the marginal portions of the notch, so that v when the alloy is melted 'the notch will be filled.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, three of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the printing plate and codenotch therein.

Figure 2 Ban end elevation showing the plate.

Figure 3 is a plan view-shoWing-one form of the notch filling device, and portions of: a known printing machine.

Figure 4 is a sideelevation showing the device of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmental en-larged'sect-ional view showing details of Figure 4-.

Figures -6 to '9; inclusive, are partially diagrammatic representations showing operational stages of another form of the invention.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view,.partly in elevation, showing the invention of Figures 6 to. 9,,the section being taken substantially on the, line H]'l0 of Figure '6, looking in the direction of the arrows of said-line,

Figure 11 is a side elevation showing another form of the invention;

Figure 12 is a plan view'ofthe invention shown inFigure 11; and.

Figure 13' is an enlarged fragmental section, showing details of Figure 11', the section being taken along theIl'ine I3.l'3 of Figure 12.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my invention for filling code. notches Win an address plate II is shown in connection with a printing machine (shown in part) having a channel guide or track I4 for the address plates and having a printer is abovesaid. track. The print ing machine is provided with known means (not shown) for intermittently passing a succession: of address plates longitudinall along said track and with means (not shown) for depressing the printer against each of said plates when the. plate reaches a definite position under the printer.

My novel notch filling device, generally designated as I 6', is mounted adjacent said track [4 and is adapted tobe set at various positions longitudinal of the track and'comprises a flat horizontal bed plate IS in fixed relation to and near the track and provided with a slot [,9 parallel to the track. A base 20 disposed on the bedplate is adjustably secured thereto by bolts 2| passing through the slot l9 and; is provided'with a standard 22 rising from the base. A tube 24 projects horizontally from the lower part of the standard; thev outer end portion being providedwith a vertical. diametric hole 25 immediately above the code notch ID to be filled. The bore 26 of the tube extends through the standard and is. provided with a T inlet, means 28' for introducing wire solder or a welding alloy rod 29 into the bore at right angles thereto near the vertical hole 25, whereby a plunger rod 30 adapted to reciprocate in the bore of the tube 24 may shear oir and force a bit of solder to the diametric hole.

The outer upper part of the standard 22 is provided with an outwardly open yoke 3 l' between the arms of which is pivotally mounted an L lever 32, while an arm 34 projects inwardly from the upper part of the standard and over the tube 24. The standard 22 is provided with a large vertical bore 35 open at the top and having a guide rod 36 slidably received therein, so that an actuating bar 38 secured fast or rigid on the upper end of the guide rod 36 may be vertically recipr'ocated in a horizontal position. An electrode holder member 39 is vertically mounted on the inner end of the bar and slidably passes vertically through a hole 49 in the arm, so that the welding electrode 41 at the lower end of the member 39 may force the solder or alloy downwardly into the notch 19.

The quantity of the solder fed to electrode hole 25 may be determined by an adjusting screw 42 threaded through the outer end portion of the bar 38 and projecting downwardly and provided with a hinged foot 43, adapted to engage the lever 3'2 latchwise, as will be described in the mode of operation. A spring 44 about the guide rod 36 compressed between the bar 38 and standard 22, retracts the electrode.

In operation a succession of plates H is fed intermittently along the printing machine track I 4, so that code notch Ill corresponding to say, August, always stops at a particular point on the track. This manner of feeding may be accomplished by the hitherto known printing machine. The novel filling device [6 is then slid along the bed plate l8, so that the electrode hole 25 will be over the point where the notch, corresponding to August, on each successive plate will stop and there be held in position by bolt 2|. As the bar 38 is depressed, the screw 42 and electrode member 39 are forced downwardly. The screw and foot 43, acting through the lever 32, first cause the rod 39 to move inwardly and shear off a piece of solder and deposit it at the hole 25, where it is held by a tight fit or is allowed to fall upon the code notch. As soon as the rod 30 has moved far enough inwardly to deposit the solder, the foot 43 slips olf the end of the outer arm 46 of the lever, so that the rod 30 does not enter the hole 25, but is immediately retracted by spring 41 under tension between the head 48 of the rod 39.

Further depression of the bar 38, therefore does not cause further movement of the rod 39, but continues to lower the electrode member 39 and electrode 4|; the latter, if necessary, expelling the bit of solder downwardly from the hole. As the solder is squeezed between the plate H and the electrode 4|, a source of current (8, 9) is applied to the plate and electrode, so that the solder is melted and forced into the notch. By proper selection of the size of the solder wire or welding rod, and the bore 29 of the tube, the

amount of solder or alloy exactly needed for filling the standard sized code notch may be determined. When each plate reaches a definite point, the printer [5 makes a downward stroke and by means of a suitable motion transmitter, such as bar 45, the bar 38 is depressed.

On upward movement of the bar 38, the foot 43 swings outwardly on hinge 43, so that the foot is once more above the arm 32 of the L lever.

In another form of the invention all feeding of the alloy and movement of the electrode may be effected by solenoids controlled by a timer 49. Such a form, as shown in Figure 6, comprises a track l4, provided with a marginal recess 59. As plates l l are fed longitudinally along the track, the code notch 13 is brought substantially under a downwardly fed wire or rod of alloy material 29. The wire is fed by suitable means, such as by rollers or wheels 5 I', one of which is intermittently rotated by a ratchet and pawl mechanism 52, actuated by a solenoid 54 and spring 55. The wire usually carries a ball or lobe 55' of varying size and shape at its lower end, as a result of the proceeding cycle of operations and consequently the ball is not suitable for supplying a controlled amount of alloy to the notch. The wire is therefore fed downwardly and guided by an inwardly yieldable tube 59, so as to be practically outside the notch, so that the lobe or ball may pass below the plate, as shown in Figure 7 and the wire itself be partially in or opposite the notch.

A horizontally reciprocatory electrode 58 is actuated by a solenoid Bl; said electrode is provided with a horizontal recess 59 adapted to receive therein the marginal portion l3 of the plate H. After the wire or rod 29 is positioned, as described above and shown in Figure '7, the excess length or lobe 55 of the wire 29, which projects below the plate II, is then smoothly cut ofi by means of a blade-like end portion 60 of the electrode 56, which latter then forces the wire 29 tightly into the notch H), as shown in Figure 8.

Finally after the alloy is well placed on the notch, a current is applied (Figure 8a) to the electrode and plate to melt the alloy, whereupon the molten alloy is forced into the notch by a somewhat molding action of the electrode. Upon melting of the alloy, the wire stock is severed from the material in the notch.

All movements and the application of the welding current are timed by the timer 49, connected to a suitable source of current LI, L2.

When the notch has been filled by alloy, as in Figure 8a, the guide tube 59 is allowed to swing outwardly and a jet of cooling air is applied to the filled notch by means of a pipe 62, so that the alloy is quickly solidified, and another plate is moved into position to be acted on in a similar manner.

When the number of plates tobe renovated is large (one publisher must be able to meet a peak load of more than a hundred thousand a day), several notch-fillers may be located at one track and the plates advanced therealong in a series equal to the number of notch-fillers. In this manner, several notch-fillers may act on several plates on the track simultaneously.

All movements and the application of the welding current are timed by the timer 49.

In another form of the invention, the alloy or solder ma be maintained in the molten state and a small quantity injected into the code notch, as shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13.

A section of the track assumes the shape of a die or mold 19. The notch marginal portion [3 of the plate I I is tightly received longitudinally in a lateral undercut groove H in one side of the track. The plates may be fed longitudinal of the track, as in Figure 1, or the outer side of the track may be hinged to the bed piece i2 of the track, as at 13 to permit lateral feed. A small aperture 14 is provided in the inner side, communicating between the groove 1 I and the exterior for the injection of molten alloy into the code notch l9, when the latter is located opposite the aperture.

A melting pot 15 contains molten solder or alloy enemas;

'lli'" maintained at a suitable temperature by a" jacket of heatingmedium lfl. Within the pot a verticalpumptub'e or barrel l9 is provided with an inlet port-80, intermediate-of its lower fixed and closed end and-its upperopen end. A vertically reciprocatory piston 8 I is tightly disposed in the tube 19 and adapted to be -ope-rated bya lever82, pivotedto an extension 84 of the pot. Intermediate of the inlet port 80.and the closed end of the tube'83, an outlet port 85 is provided for the ejection of the alloy. A tube 86, having a bore preferably of small or capillary size, has its respective endsfitted into the outlet port 85 of the pump tube l9'and into the die aperture 14 of the-die. or mold 70, to connect the pump tothe mold.

In operation when the piston is above theport 80; alloy may flow into the, lower-part of the pump tube, but will not flow though the capillar tube 86; As thepiston descends, the port 80 is closed by'the: piston and the alloy. forced through-the capillary tube; and intothe mold I0, so as vto-i-lll the code notch ID. A plurality of pumps may be used to fill a pluralit of notches.

Jacketing means may be provided to prevent the alloy from solidifying in the capillary tube or mold, such as pipe 88 associated with passages 89 in the mold.

It is obvious that slight changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts, as shown, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent of the United States is:

1. A method for filling notches in plate material with wire alloy, having a lobe on one end thereof, said method comprising holding the material, feeding the wire in line with the notch and parallel to the axis thereof, past the material, so that the lobe clears the notch, forcing the wire laterally into the notch and cutting on the lobed end of the Wire substantially flush with a face of the material, melting the wire in the notch and 01f from the remainder of the wire stock, and smoothing the molten alloy in the notch, so as to be substantially even with the opposite face of the plate material,

2. A device for filling notches in flat plate material with wire alloy, having a lobe on one end thereof, said device comprising means for holding the material, means for feeding the wire in line with the notch and parallel to the axis thereof, past the material, so that the lobe clears the notch, and an electrode reciprocatorily mounted to move substantially in the plane of the plate material and having an end portion with an upper surface in the plane of one face of the material and adapted to slide under the material and provided with a bottom for the notch, the electrode having a wall substantially at right angles to said surface and engageable with the edge of the plate material, to close the lateral opening of the notch.

3. A device for filling notches in plate material with wire alloy, having a lobe on one end thereof, said device comprising means for ho1ding the material, means for feeding the wire in line with the notch and parallel to the axis thereof, past the material, so that the lobe clears the notch, means for forcing the wire laterally into the notch and cutting off the lobed end of the wire substantially flush with a face of the material, means for melting the wire a in thenotch and-01f from the remainder of the wire stock;

and means for smoothing the molten alloy. in" the notch, so as to be substantially even with the.

opposite face of the material;

4. In. combination, means for holding a.printing-:plate,1 having alateral notch in the lateral marginal portion: thereof, means for feeding a rod or wire of alloy, almosti inv the notch:and substantially. perpendicular to. and across. the

plate, an electrode adapted to reciprocate subbeing provided With a: cutting edge at-the'end' thereof, whereby',,when the wire is lying across". the margin of the plate, the inward movement of the base arm will force the Wire into the notchand cut thewire off,.even with one faceof the plate, and serve as a closure for one side of the notch, the vertical arm of the L-shaped portion being at least as high as the thickness of said marginal portion, so that after the wire is forced into the notch, the vertical arm will cover the outer opening of the notch, and a source of current connected to said electrode and plate.

5. In combination, means for holding a horizontal printing plate, having a lateral notch in the lateral marginal portion thereof, means for downwardly feeding a rod or wire of alloy, in line with and near the notch, until the lower end of the wire projects below the plate, an electrode adapted to reciprocate substantially in the plane of said plate and lateral thereto, the wire being fed between the notch and the electrode; said electrode having an L-shaped end portion directed toward the notch, provided with a horizontal recess to receive the marginal portion of the plate, the inner faces of the arms being adapted to engage the outer and lower faces of the plate, the base arm of the L-shaped portion being longer than the depth of the notch and provided with a cutting edge at the end thereof, whereby, when the wire is positioned across the margin of the plate, the inward movement of the base arm will force the wire into the notch and cut the wire oif even with the lower face of the plate and serve as a bottom closure for said notch; the upper arm of the L-shaped portion being about as high as the thickness of the plate, so that after the wire is forced into the notch, said upper arm will force molten alloy laterally into the notch and fill any voids and form a smooth edge surface, and a source of current connected to said electrode and plate, substantially as shown and described.

8. In combination, means for holding a printing plate having a lateral notch in the lateral marginal portion thereof, means for laying a rod or wire of alloy adjacent the notch and substantially perpendicular to and across the plate, an electrode adapted to reciprocate substantially in the plane of the plate and lateral thereto, said electrode having an L-shaped end portion dirooted toward the not-ch provided with a recess to receive the marginal portion of the plate, one of the arms of the L-shaped portion being longer than the depth of the notch and provided with a cutting edge at the end thereof, whereby, when the wire is lying across the margin of the plate, an inward movement of the arm will force the wire into the notch and cut the wire off even with one side of the plate and serve as a closure for one side of the notch, the other arm of the L- shaped portion being engageable with one of the faces of the marginal portions of the plate and adapted to cover another side of the notch and smooth the alloy in said notch, and a source of current connected to said electrode and plate.

7. In combination, means for holding a horizontal printing plate, having a lateral notch in the lateral marginal portion thereof, means for downwardly feeding a wire of alloy near and in line with the notch, until the wire projects below the plate, an electrode adapted to reciprocate substantially in the plane of the plate and lateral thereto, the wire being between the electrode and plate; said electrode having an end portion directed toward the notch provided with a smooth upper surface, adapted to engage the lower face of the plate, and a substantially vertical surface adapted to engage the lateral marginal portion, whereby when the wire i posi tioned across the margin of the plate, the in- 8 ward movement of the electrode end portion will force the wire into the not-ch and cut the wire ofi, even with one side of the plate and serve as a bottom closure for the notch, the vertical portion will mold the edge portions of the alloy, and a source of current connected to said electrode and plate.

ALFRED VANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,549,461 Deppeler Aug. 11,1925 1,556,402 Begtrup Oct. 6, 1925 1,807,477 Hume May 26, 1931 2,003,321 Trombly June 4, 1935 2,016,101 Towne Oct. 1,1935 2,261,186 "Schaffiert Nov. 9, 1941 2,283,158 Humphrey -1 May 12, 1942 

